Austin Nola rejoins Baby Cakes to start 2018 season

A familiar local baseball face is back.

Former LSU shortstop Austin Nola has cleared waivers and has been outrighted to join the New Orleans Baby Cakes.

Nola, a converted catcher in the Miami Marlins organization, is active for the Cakes season opener Thursday against the Nashville Sounds at The Shrine on Airline.

As a result of the move, this year marks the fourth in a row Nola will play for the New Orleans Triple-A squad.

Nola, a Catholic-Baton Rouge alum, was a member of LSU’s 2009 College World Series championship squad. His brother Aaron Nola is a starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies.